Charles de Cosse

Charles de Cosse (1505-1563) was a Marshal of France during the Italian Wars.

Biography
Charles de Cosse was born in to a noble family from Anjou, France, and he served in the French Army at the 1528 siege of Naples, the taking of Avigliana and Susa in 1537, and Perpignan in 1542. He became Grand Falconer of France in 1540 and was given command of all of the light cavalry in Piedmont in 1543, following King Francis I of France to Flanders that same year and taking 600 prisoners. In 1544, during the fighting for Vitry-en-Perthois, he was twice captured and twice rescued by his men. In 1546, he was made Grand Master of Artillery. In 1550, he was promoted to Marshal of France, and he served as Governor of Piedmont. In 1551, he lifted the siege of Parma, conquered and plundered Vercelli in 1553, and conquered Ivrea in 1554, allowing for Swiss reinforcements to arrive. In 1555, he surprised and took Casale, ransoming several captured Imperial nobles in order to pay for his troops. He died in 1563.